"Pulse on America" Show to Feature The Manufacturing Institute

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PTG Studios is pleased to announce the selection of The Manufacturing Institute for its innovative educational television series, Pulse on America. The institute will be featured in a segment on "Manufacturing-- the Backbone of America," highlighting the acute shortage of skilled workers for 21st century manufacturing and the race to attract more bright young people to these high-paying jobs.

"We are proud to partner with PTG to raise awareness about U.S. manufacturing's enduring strength, its acute skills shortage and its excellent career opportunities," said Manufacturing Institute President Jerry Jasinowski. The institute is the research and education arm of the National Association of Manufacturers, the nation's largest industrial trade association.

"Many Americans aren't aware that advanced manufacturing is the most important part of the U.S. economy with respect to trade competitiveness, innovation and productivity improvements. The strengths of modern manufacturing underpin our economic and national security and high standard of living," he said.

"One of the most pressing challenges facing U.S. manufacturers is an acute shortage of skilled workers with the science, math and communications skills required to work in today's high-tech workplace," Jasinowski continued. "With the baby boomers retiring and technology advancing at a rapid pace, the current skills shortages will intensify and manufacturing jobs will become even more plentiful for young people with the right skills and education."

"But U.S. manufacturing has an image problem among young people, who think of it as a dying industry with repetitive, assembly-line work. In fact, we have the strongest manufacturing sector in the world with cutting edge technology and an extraordinary range of challenging and high-paying career opportunities," Jasinowski said.

"U.S. manufacturers are in the race of their lives for talent, and the country with the best work force is going to be the winner," he said.

The Dream It. Do It. manufacturing careers campaign is The Manufacturing Institute's unique response to the severe shortage of qualified employees - including skilled technical workers, scientists and engineers -- facing U.S. manufacturers. Dream It. Do It. promotes strong regional partnerships among local business, political, education and civic leaders to encourage more young people to pursue careers in advanced manufacturing while alerting them to educational and training opportunities.

Interest in this innovative careers and economic development campaign is huge, with ongoing Dream It. Do It. campaigns in Nebraska, northeast Ohio (Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown) and southwest Virginia, and signed contracts for Dream It. Do It. campaigns in north Texas (Dallas-Fort-Worth-Arlington), southeast Indiana and Seattle/Puget Sound.

The Dream It. Do It. pilot program rolled out in Kansas City in early 2005 and has contributed to a 35 percent increase in enrollment in manufacturing-related courses at the local technical college, helped the area acquire a $15 million federal workforce development grant and produced a real increase in positive attitudes about manufacturing careers.

"The U.S. manufacturing economy is the largest in the world: producing more products than ever before, employing more than 14 million people and accounting for 12 percent of America's gross domestic product (GDP)," Jasinowski continued. "Manufacturing accounts for nearly three-fourths of all U.S. industrial research and development, creating innovative products and processes that enhance our quality of life. Manufacturing pays an average of 23 percent more than the average compensation and has a powerful, positive impact on other sectors of the economy, generating an additional $1.37 of economic activity for every dollar of manufactured goods produced," he said.